Mountain of Dire don't belong to no city

Deal. 3/8

It was difficult to contain her excitement for her new friend in place of seriousness for the hunt. Her success at finding a friendly girl AND they were off to hunt together.. well, that was just awesome! She would have to make sure the girl knew that they would be friends after the hunt, too, despite their shared hunger being the main reason for their unity right now. Z thought that she could use some more friends outside of her brother now that they had a whole new pack to get to know. He had been her world for the longest time, but now they could expand their world safely and happily. Starting today!

Zeta turned her head slightly, so that he ears could pick up Lilya's soft words. Her eyes did not shift from their forward focus though, hoping she would catch glimpse of their prey. She nodded in agreement at her positioning offer, and without a word Z crossed over to place herself into said position. They strode forward quietly, a silent understanding of how close they were to the doe. When it came into fruition, she was happy to see that their automagical downwind approach that she'd barely remembered from her brother had succeeded in not startling it to their presence. It munched idly at a deciduous tree, though it did not move, so they could not know if it was completely healthy and ready for a run -- or hopefully injured. She crouched low behind the thick foliage, daring to take her eyes off of the doe only for a moment to watch and see what her friend was doing. 

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4/8 Active Hunting

Lilya had never had a real sense of security, even in her last pack. She might have been blind to the war that had started to fester under her nose as a pup, but her parents had taught her that nothing was ever safe, nor secure… it left its own special effect on the girl, that was for sure. That was why, when it was hunt time like it was now, she was serious, almost stoic in her movements and actions as her ocean blue eyes were coated with a tense of intensity, like she was trying to bore into the target and see into its soul.

She’d separated from Zeta, drifting towards the left as she had promised, while she was secretly hoping that her suddenly serious nature surrounding the events did not give the other girl the wrong impression when it came to the nature of their budding partnership and friendship. Hunting was a serious matter. She gave a glance towards Zeta, never really letting the prey out of her eyesight as she gave a soft smirk towards her friend, tail remaining still behind her, eyes narrowed a little. She’d let Zeta decide when they made their first lunge, so they could bring down their breakfast… and she let her know she was in position with that subtle glance, meeting her eyes before her head turned back.

5/8

Zeta could not help but notice her friend's lithe movements, confident and smooth as she paced through the forest. She wondered momentarily if she looked as well-versed in hunting as her friend did, oblivious to her natural grace given to her by her mother. She had to force her eyes to come out of the glazing over and refocus in our their prey. The doe continued to munch idly on leaves, though Zeta worried how much longer they would get away with their sneaking before the doe caught wind of their proximity and bolted. If that happened, Zeta did not think the two girls would be able to regain their ground through the dense forest. It was now or never.

Lilya gave her a knowing glance that indicated they were ready to ambush their prey. Well, at least she thought that's what it meant. She didn't want to go back to Zane empty-handed, so it was time to do this. She would go beyond her supererogatory duties as the little sister, and surprise him! She would! She nodded to herself confidently, and to her hunting partner. 

Luckily, the doe nearly had strode dumbly in between the two girls, giving them an excellent opportunity for an ambush. If you're gonna do it, then do it! She exclaimed to herself. She closed her eyes, took a breath, and when her beryl-lime reopened, she dashed forward. She did her best to aim the spooked doe towards Lilya, though her darting motions were so quick and instinctual that she could not have told you in detail if she was doing what she had planned to do or not. It was just on.

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Active Hunting Post 6/8
So sorry this is so late - July kinda swept me up @Zeta

Lilya’s shoulders rolled back, preparing to dash out in front of the foliage, and waiting for Zeta to follow suit in order to do so. She took the lead, her friend making that first move as Lilya bolted out from the opposite side, a collected and determined expression on her face, ready to take down the doe so they could enjoy a decent meal rather than the rabbits she’d become accustomed to while travelling on her own. She was acting on instinct now, spooking the doe back in Zeta’s direction, figuring that they could nudge it back and forth until it started to tire and they could take it down once and for all.

It was a rush running through her fur, the air causing it to bellow as they ran forward, knowing that the doe was as good as theirs, but refusing to get cocky about it, because when you got cocky, you slipped up, and that was how you lost your food. It was set, her icy blue eyes trailed on the deer as she gave a soft bark… should they take it down now? The doe was starting to slow down, figuring that it’d put up less of a fight…

7/8 <3

Zeta was fighting her emotions between losing herself to the excitement of almost successfully taking down this animal with a stranger, and trying to find the right way to do so without the opportunity slipping away from them. She felt her instinctual side pull her movements, but not so well as a wolf her age should probably be able. It was simply because there was a second wolf to help her, and the dumbness of the doe, that they had gotten so close for a good chance at their meal. Nonetheless, she was focused in, and doing her darned-ness to make sure they ended up with full bellies – and an awesome surprise for @Zane!

 

Lilya was doing an awesome job at darting the doe back to her, and they continued to do so as they inched in closer so they were both flanking it. In a moment, one that she was not convinced was real or imagined, the doe seemed to falter at Lilya’s side. Was this it? As the doe visibly slowed, the two girls’ energy stayed heightened, but Zeta faltered. She didn’t want to jump too soon, or too late. She didn’t want to mess this up! But before she could talk herself out of it, she lunged for the flank of the doe, and it collapsed clumsily underneath her. She backpedaled her rear legs into the dirt in an attempt to slow the chase to a stop so Lilya could help her. She fought furiously to keep the back end of the wild deer down, hoping that it would soon accept its fate and stop kicking her underbelly with those hooves. She winced at the blunt kicks and pinches as the doe stepped around to pull away from her clawing and bites, but it was an inevitable win for the wolves this time. Zeta tasted blood and her beryl-lime eyes were alight with fire.

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Active Hunting Post 8/8. WE DID IT! @Zeta

Her tail lashed lightly from side to side as she fell more into the rhythm of the hunt, nipping at it to help wear it down and bounce the doe back and forth before Zeta made her lunge and grab onto a part of the deer, keeping the rear down whilst Lilya lunged, teeth sinking into its side near the base of its neck, the teasing taste of blood honing her concentration down further, the deer starting to stumble and fall from the weight of the two women. All that was running through Lilya’s head in that moment was she was hungry, and for a lot more than the rabbits and voles that had been keeping her alive for who knows how long… she needed something larger than that.

And the doe was brought down, stumbling after a few failed attempts to kick them both free, and Lilya took her jaws, snapping them at the doe’s neck to speed up the process of its death and put it out of its misery so she and her new friend could feast in peace and it could stop feeling pain – nothing, not a wolf nor their prey deserved a slow and drawn out death… not even the most savage of creatures. She had a lopsided grin on her face as she licked her lips, looking up at her friend. "We did it!"

The blows and kicks softened and decreased in frequency, and Zeta watched her friend snap her jaws around the doe's neck and everything slowed to a halt. Whoa.. they'd actually done it! They took down a whole frikkin' deer all by themselves! Without any help from Zane or anybody! Ha! She untangled herself and a grin made its way onto her face as she met her new friend's eyes. Lilya's face matched her own sense of accomplishment, and her tail patted the ground happily. "We did it!" She agreed, giddy with pride. @Zane was going to be so proud of her, and it did wonders for the girl's autonomy. Not that she was ever going to have to worry about being without her brother, but it was still a great feeling knowing that she could did it just fine on her own! Or with a friend, as it were!

"Let's eat!" She said excitedly, and looked down at their hot meal beneath her paws like a child who couldn't decide where to begin eating a giant birthday cake. Her jaws parted and she began with hearty bites to fill her empty stomach. Success tasted so good! After the girls ate, while it would be more than enough for the two of them, she could take some back to her brother as well. Zeta wondered if Lilya would want to take some somewhere for her friends and family. If she even had them. She seemed a pretty friendly wolf to not have anyone to call home, though, and Zeta was confident that things would be just fine. She gorged her belly until it threatened to return the food back up, and fatigue moved in. 

Gazing up at the giant mountain overseeing their morning, she swallowed a last piece before laying her muzzle down sleepily on a still intact piece of fur. "Mmmm, that.. was.. amazing," she hummed, satiated. Big meals filled your belly like no rabbit or rodent could, and it was a rare feeling that filled her head with lots of feel-good hormones.

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There was pride in her eyes, that success of knowing that she could hunt, she could survive even when sometimes her fallen hope zapped at her willpower, her eyes curiously gazing between the deer and the other girl, allowing her the first bite and friendly and wide grin on her muzzle to echo the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that came with what they had just done. She hadn’t done many hunts in her life, she’d hunted smaller prey, but the larger prey was still somewhat foreign to her, awkward to take down… but friends always helped… especially since she wouldn’t have been able to do it without her!

The girl announced that they should eat before she took the first bite, Lilya’s maw following suit as she started to devour and pick at the animal they had just brought down, silently thanking the gods for its life and her continued health. It wasn’t something she did often – religion had been taught to her but she’d never had a reason to truly embrace it… it was more of habit engrained into her. She ate until she felt like her stomach would burst, that grin remaining as the other girl spoke, her filling her belly before Lilya had finished filling hers, a nod as she licked blood from her maw, and started on her paws.

“I haven’t eaten that well in ages!” She agreed with an eager nod, wondering if she could catch a little bit of sleep before she continued on, wondering if it was in the cards or if she’d lingered in this place for too long. They were both loners, no honorifics to their names… Lilya was alone but Zeta had mentioned that she had a brother… “D’ya want help hauling this to ya brother?” She offered her assistance, knowing she had no one to share with and thus, it was only fair for the other girl to take what was left.

Archived! <3

The satiety of the situation was coming through on more than one gauge. Her belly, her self-confidence, her new friendship, and her excitement for her surprise. Altogether content, Zeta did nothing to stultify her goofy smile towards the other wolf. She appreciated the girl's gesture more than she could say when she realized that she had offered to help bring it to her brother. Had she no family? Perhaps Zeta had interpreted the young female incorrectly. Or perhaps she was just so selfless that she was willing to help the loner twins out. In any case, her tail wagged appreciatively at Lilya.

"I would love that, thank you," she said, her tone speaking as much for her as her words. She pulled herself to her feet and shook her pelt, having gone a tad stiff since gorging herself for so long in one place, awkwardly atop the doe. She smiled up at the large mountain above them, and tried to imagine the look on her brother's face when he saw what she had accomplished for him.

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